Jack Ketch

John (Jack) Ketch (died 1686) was one of Charles I's executioners who became famous through the way he performed his duties during the tumults of the 1680s, when he was often mentioned in broadsheet accounts that circulated throughout England. He is thought to have been appointed in 1663. He executed Lord Russell in Lincoln's Inn Fields in 1683 and the Duke of Monmouth in 1685 after the Monmouth Rebellion. He was either very awkward or sadistic with his technique, and his victims were known to have suffered at their deaths.

Related Topics:
1686 - Charles I's - Executioner - 1680s - Broadsheet - England - Lord Russell - Lincoln's Inn Fields - 1683 - Duke of Monmouth - 1685 - Monmouth Rebellion - Sadistic

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The execution of William, Lord Russell, on July 21, 1683 was carried out by him in a clumsy way, and a pamphlet is extant which contains his " Apologie," in which he alleges that the prisoner did not "dispose himself as was most suitable" and that he was interrupted while taking aim. On the scaffold, on the July 15, 1685, the duke of Monmouth, addressing Ketch, referred to his treatment of Lord Russell, the result being that Ketch was quite unmanned and had to deal at least five strokes with his axe, and finally use a knife, to sever Mon-mouth's head from his shoulders. In 1686 Ketch was deposed and imprisoned at Bridewell, but when his successor, Pascha Rose, a butcher, was, after four months in the office, hanged at Tyburn, Ketch was reappointed. He died towards the close of 1686.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

As a result, the term Jack Ketch is also used:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• as a proverbial name for death or, sometimes, Satan;
• as a shorthand for the gallows;
• as the name of the hangman in the traditional version of Punch and Judy.

The knot more commonly known as a hangman's knot is also sometimes known as Jack Ketch's knot.

Related Topics:
Knot - Hangman's knot

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~